Friends,

It's time for my annual health update and rally for support for this year’s Parkinson Super Walk, which takes place Saturday, September 7 at 11 a.m. at Victoria Park.

First of all, I want to note my original 2012 diagnosis has been modified. All doctors now agree I have Parkinson’s, which makes this call to action all the more appropriate.

It’s been 16 months since I underwent Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery and I can now say I consider it to have made a major improvement. I continue to deal with frustrating speech difficulties, which are often characteristic of DBS patients. These episodes are thankfully brief, and my speech pathologist is very helpful.

A new concern is the start of symptoms on the other (left) side of my body. The disease is always evolving, and I expect over the next 6 months that further adjustments to my implanted electrode and my drug regimen will be made.

Unfortunately, the DBS surgery I had in April 2018 does not influence the left side of my body at all, so a second surgery could be required. This decision must be approached cautiously, because a second surgery raises the likelihood of accelerated dementia. At this point, that’s not something I am prepared to risk!

Living with Parkinson’s continues to be a daily struggle for me and my family. Therefore, it is a cause I get behind – without hesitation – every autumn. Help me raise money to find a cure, so that future generations might see Parkinson’s as a disease of the past.

We are so thankful for the continued support of family, friends, and our community. You make every day better.

Your donation will make a difference. Click DONATE NOW, and you'll receive a tax receipt by email.

Thank you!

Paul Kent